Haskins Publications

Number	775
Year	1991
Drawer	14
Entry Date	11/05/1999
Authors	Bingham, G. P., Schmidt, R. C. and Turvey, M. T., & Rosenblum, L. D.
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Publication	Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 17(2), 359-381.
url	http://www.haskins.yale.edu/Reprints/HL0775.pdf
Abstract	Task dynamics corresponding to rhythmic movements emerge from interactions among dynamical resources composed of the musculature, the link segments, and the nervous and circulatory systems. This article investigated whether perturbations of interlimb coordination might be effected over circulatory and nervous elements. Stiffness of wrist-pendulums oscillated at a common tempo and at 180 relative phase was perturbed through the use of tonic activity about an ankle. Left and right stiffnesses, the common period, and the phase relation all changed. Stiffnesses increased with ankle torque in proportion to the wrist's inertial load. Despite different changes in stiffness at the 2 wrists, isochrony was preserved. The stability was shown to be consistent with the proportionality of changes in stiffness to the inertial loads. The phase departed from antiphase in proportion to the asymmetry of inertial loads. The size of departures decreased with increasing ankle torque. An account was developed in terms of muscular, circulatory, and nervous functions.
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